Trinovid HD problem (?) (3 Viewers)

[A2GG]

I’ve been using a 8x32 HD for over 1.5 years now and I noticed right from the start there’s a blurry area at bottom edge of the view that can’t be focused/sharpened. I’ve ignored it mostly all this time. I figured it’s some astigmatism of the lenses. The edges all around have some blurring as it’s not a flat field bino. However the bottom edge seems to have a slightly larger area of blur and perhaps more readily noticeable and it can’t be focused it seems.

Finally I decided to email Leica support last week to ask about it. They said they should check it for a possible failed seal and air intrusion. I really don’t think this is the issue. There is no internal fogging and it looks clean and dust free on the inside. Plus, I’ve used this in all weather and temps and haven’t seen any internal fogging or mold or anything to indicate there is a leak.

Are there any Trinovid HD owners here who see this blurry area at the bottom of the view as well? Are you able to focus/sharpen the edges in your bino?

Please comment if you have any idea what this may be - if it’s a defect or normal consequence of optical design. astigmatism in the lenses perhaps? The blurring is not from field curvature since it can’t be focused (stays blurry).

 

[Wilbr]

Hi Beth, Trinovid HD 10x32 owner here. I tried using the bottom edge to read a number on an utility pole outside my house. On the bottom edge, I only saw blur due to field curvature, but I was able to focus/sharpen the edge to see the number on the utility pole clearly. I hope this helps

 

[tenex]

I don't know this model but it sounds worth sending in for service. Zeiss has sometimes tolerated annoying (to me) levels of astigmatism, but not Leica. Whatever the problem is, they should be able to identify and fix it.

 

[PatR]

Hello Beth saw your post this morning so took my 3 month old 8x32 HD's out on our walk in the hills to see if i could replicate your problem. Whilst there is a slight drop off in sharpness at the extreme edges, I couldn't see any blur at all so I suspect there is a fault in your bino's. Bummer.

I would send them in as, if you are anything like me, it would annoy me every time I picked them up!

 

[A2GG]

thanks all. I checked again this morning. the top and sides begin to get blurry closer to the field stop. the sweet spot would be quite large if the bottom area was similar to the top and sides. the bottom has a thicker area where it gets blurry and it can’t be focused. It also seems all blurring at edges can’t be focused. it’s not my eyesight because I wear my eyeglasses (for astigmatism) when I use binoculars.

Part of me doesn’t want to go through the hassle of sending it in to Leica. I’ve been using it like this for over 1.5 yrs now and most of the time the issue goes unnoticed because I tend to naturally look in the center. Plus I would need to buy a backup bino while the Trinovid goes in for repair. But if Leica can fix it I guess I should eventually send it in.

 

[NDhunter]

Beth:
I tried the 8x42 Trinovid HD a few years ago, and I think the issue has been brought up before.
I found a nice center view, but things do drop off towards the edges. I think you should just enjoy
the binocular. It does have Leica quality.
Jerry

 

[Sc0tty]

Is it the same through both eyepieces? If not then there’s definitely something wrong.

 

[A2GG]

thanks Jerry. these are my thought today as well … just continue to enjoy it as I have been all along.

 

[A2GG]

Is it the same through both eyepieces? If not then there’s definitely something wrong.

that’s something I meant to do this morning but got distracted with birds and forgot. I’ll see if I have time this week.

 

[A2GG]

ya know what, I’ve been enjoying the view with no eye strain whatsoever for well over a year. I should just enjoy what I have instead of chasing perfection.

I’ll look through each tube next time I’m out with it and if both sides match I won’t bother sending it in to Leica. embracing its little imperfections seems fine to me. I think back about all of the beautiful views I’ve had rarely noticing blurry edges.

I appreciate all of the responses.

 

[henry link]

Before you return the binocular try these few simple tests. First, as ScOtty suggested, make sure you see the same effect in both barrels while looking through each side separately, using only your dominant eye for both sides. Next, while looking directly at the blurriness at 6:00 move the entire binocular up and down in front of your face, without changing the angle of your gaze toward the bottom of the field. Do you notice any change in the blurriness as the binocular is moved? Finally do all of this again while holding the binocular upside down so the top and bottom parts of the optics are reversed. Do you still see the problem at the bottom or does it switch to the top?

I'm suggesting these tests because many people have reported a problem with lower sharpness at the bottom of the field and I can see it myself with almost any binocular depending on exactly how I rotate my eyeballs in a downward direction compared to upward or side to side. I've found that the most natural eyeball movements lead to greater edge of field vignetting when looking side to side and upward and less vignetting when looking downward. (The amount of vignetting in different directions can be directly observed by using a highly defocused star point.) This directional difference in vignetting acts to stop down the off axis exit pupils more at the sides and top than the bottom which improves both field curvature and astigmatism in those directions. I won't be surprised if that is what's happening here because your description is spot on for it.

 

[A2GG]

thanks Henry. I’ll try this when I get a chance. the second test seems difficult to perform. I wear eyeglasses… so I just slide the eyecups up and down slightly while my eyes are looking at the bottom of the field , right? If the blurry part moves does this mean an issue with the bino? If the blurry part stays at the bottom this means it’s just eye position (no bino problem) ?

 

[Tringa45]

Beth,
Just a thought, but do you wear varifocals? If so, I think this could be the cause of your problems. See looksharp's comments in post #6: Eyeglasses - a few unqualified remarks

John

 

[A2GG]

Beth,
Just a thought, but do you wear varifocals? If so, I think this could be the cause of your problems. See looksharp's comments in post #6: Eyeglasses - a few unqualified remarks

John

no, I have a single lens prescription

 

[Foss]

Hey Beth, Maybe flip the Trinis upside down and see if the blurriness is at the top now?

 

[A2GG]

Hey Beth, Maybe flip the Trinis upside down and see if the blurriness is at the top now?

thanks. Henry suggested this already (post #11). when I get a chance I'll perform the tests Henry provided.

 

[A2GG]

I'm suggesting these tests because many people have reported a problem with lower sharpness at the bottom of the field and I can see it myself with almost any binocular depending on exactly how I rotate my eyeballs in a downward direction compared to upward or side to side. I've found that the most natural eyeball movements lead to greater edge of field vignetting when looking side to side and upward and less vignetting when looking downward. (The amount of vignetting in different directions can be directly observed by using a highly defocused star point.) This directional difference in vignetting acts to stop down the off axis exit pupils more at the sides and top than the bottom which improves both field curvature and astigmatism in those directions. I won't be surprised if that is what's happening here because your description is spot on for it.

Thanks Henry for your help.

I performed the tests earlier.

each tube shows the same effect.

the blurry area stayed at the bottom when moving the bino up/down.
the blurry area stayed at the bottom when looking through the bino upside down as well.

I'm happy there's nothing wrong with my binocular.

thanks to everyone for helping

 

[tenex]

many people have reported a problem with lower sharpness at the bottom of the field and I can see it myself with almost any binocular depending on exactly how I rotate my eyeballs in a downward direction compared to upward or side to side.

I recall this having been mentioned before, but didn't think of it here because I had difficulty reproducing it myself (and still do). Even Beth seems not to have been struck by it with other bins, so why this Trinovid HD? Presumably it could be more noticeable in models that have worse aberrations to begin with... or people vary in how they rotate their eyeballs?

 

[A2GG]

I recall this having been mentioned before, but didn't think of it here because I had difficulty reproducing it myself (and still do). Even Beth seems not to have been struck by it with other bins, so why this Trinovid HD? Presumably it could be more noticeable in models that have worse aberrations to begin with... or people vary in how they rotate their eyeballs?

I believe I have seen this in other binoculars I've owned in the past just not any recent ones. Perhaps it's more readily noticed in some models than others. Obviously we shouldn't see this in flat field binos with sharper edges.